I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Monday, 24 February 2014

Les Fleurs, Les Fleurs




Hello all!  Yet again I'm welcoming you here only to send you on your way almost at once...

It's sneak peek time for a project over at The Artistic Stamper, and we're in springtime mode again.  If you have time to pop over and take a look, that would be lovely.  I hope you enjoy the trip!









And speaking of Les Fleurs... I've a little extra floweriness for you today.

I don't usually do this, but you remember that sunny Sunday a week or so ago?












We went to Myddelton House, home to Edward Augustus Bowles (1865 - 1954), a.k.a. the Crocus King.












He was a renowned plant collector, artist and botanist, bringing back botanical specimens and then finding ways to keep them alive in the British climate.











His gardens - including a wonderful woodland rockery - are breathtakingly lovely, and the spring flowers were glorious... with absolute drifts of snowdrops.










It was magical in the sunshine, and I thought I'd just share a few of the hundreds of photographs I took.


They do hold the promise of spring, even though the sunshine's been pretty scarce since then.  We can only hope...  






And don't forget the floral tags over at The Artistic Stamper for your delectation!

The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.
Gertrude S. Wister

55 comments:

Shelby said...

What gorgeous pictures and I can't believe y'all have flowers in bloom already and oh so green and lush!!

Shelby

Astrid Maclean said...

Just been over, fab pair of tags and I love these photos!! Wow, Spring actually might be just around the corner...

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous tags Alison with gorgeous images and colours, a real promise of the warmer weather to come. TFS the crocus photos, it's lovely to see the first signs of Spring which are coming so early this year. I just hope we don't get a really cold spell that will set it back again.
Have a great week xx

Inkypinkycraft said...

gorgeous tags and what beautiful flowers, I love the snowdrops and lets hope spring is on its way! hugs trace x

Helen said...

Just off to check out the tags. The snowdrops are gorgeous ! There were early daffodils open at Kew on Saturday - I think Spring really is finally on the way!

Tincan Crafter said...

Those are pretty!

Lin said...

Beautifull pictures Alison..sounds like you had a bwonderful day xx Will now pop over to the Artistic Stamper as your sneeky peek looks fab!

brenda said...

Just checked them out, great tags Alison.

And beautiful Spring blooms, Nature is amazing with everything popping into bloom on schedule as if by magic.

B x

Maggie said...

Tags are gorgeous Alison I can see you have been inspired by your trip! The crocus pics are delightful not sure where my crocus have disappeared too probably rotted in all this wet!!

MaggieH

chrissie said...

Amazing tags and beautiful photographs.Never seen the glass drops before so off to look for those as I love them

We have snowdrops, crocus and some yellow aconites out at the moment--such beauty in nature I think.

Have a great day especially if you are still up north as it is sunny here.

Chrissie x

craftytrog said...

Oh! Lovely photos Alison! Love seeing the flowers reappearing.
Alison xxx

Amanda said...

Love the two tags, so full of the joys of spring. So many lovely things to look at but I love the addition of the torn beeswax pieces.
Love
Amanda x

craftytrog said...

Oh! Lovely photos Alison! Love seeing the flowers reappearing.
Alison xxx

Redanne said...

I have just been over, your tags are fabulous! Your flower photos are an absolute delight, we have lots of snowdrops in our garden - a sure sign of Spring (I hope!). Anne xx

Margie said...

Hi Alison, Sorry I haven't been over for a while but so pleased I saw your beautiful spring flower photos - they made me smile. I'm off to see your full project at Artistic Stamper now. Margie x

Martina said...

The flower photos are beautiful and put me in a spring mood!
However, your tags are a feast for my eyes, dear Alison! Simply amazing!

Cocofolies said...

Oooo, your floral tag (tags?..) look(s) fabulous, I'm off checking out!! But before, let me say that your crocus photos are delightful, they are a true promise of Spring! Hugs, Coco xxx

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Alison, THANK YOU for sharing a wee bit of spring with us still frozen in Canada:O), the sneak peek has me all a twitter heading over there right now.. ((( BIG HUGS )))..

Hettie said...

Beautiful piece Alison and those flowers are too. We are lucky enough to have drifts of wild snowdrops and we reckon that since having the bees they are getting better and better!
Hugs
xx

Kelly said...

Love your set of tags and the glass music notes you made. It all comes together beautifully! I also appreciate the photos of flowers, they are beautiful and looks warm there. A very nice pick me up this morning!
Have a good day,
Kelly

Krisha said...

Popped over to AS and got the whole picture. These are such pretty tags.

Spring flowers are always the prettiest!

Kay Wallace said...

Your tags are as stunning as these harbingers of Spring! I love them!

Terry said...

Beautiful tags, Alison! I love the all the stamping and embellishments! Still can't find the glass gems! The flower pictures are amazing and so beautiful! Enjoy the week! Hugs!

Lisa Minckler said...

Such gorgeous crocus. The Crocus King grew well ;) You know I love vicarious vacations and I thoroughly enjoyed the one on your blog today. Your tag is sensational. Off to get a close-up or four!
HUGS!
Lisa x

Anneke said...

Beautiful pictures and love your tags. Just went to the blog to have a good look.
Anneke. www.annekescardart.blogspot.com

Carol Q said...

wonderful tags Alison - the sun really accentuates the corrugated card to great effect. lovely to see the flowers emerging too.

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful Alison. Love your photos here too - lovely refreshing post. Nicola x

massofhair said...

Loving your snowdrop pictures, such stunning colours and details.

Love your Tag, on the way to look at it now :-) xxx

May said...

Gorgeous photos...Off for a closer look at your creation... Hugs May x x x

Annie said...

Your project looks amazing and I shall certainly take a closer look x Love the colours and those crocuses/snowdrops certainly made me smile. Stunning photographs x

TFS and crafty hugs

annie x

Meggymay said...

Fantastic tags, love the photos of the beautiful spring flowers.
Yvonne

maj. said...

Fabulous tags, Alison!!!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, both tags are fantastic, love every detail, especially the glas pebbles.
Thanks for sharing the photos... we've the same flowers in our garden :)

Anonymous said...

Snowdrops are my absolute favourite, also a favourite of my lovely Mum, they are always so delicate yet we know they must have great strength and endurance to raise their pretty heads out of the ground when it is still winter.
Have viewed your creations in full, glorious - always love when you create with that stamp set.
Wishes
Lynne

Birscrea4fun said...

Hello, Allison, thank you, to visite my blog.
I like your pictures, the are beautiful.
I like also take pictures.
Your tags ar perfect.
Great from me bye bye
Birgit from the netherlands

PetraB said...

Gorgeous tags, and fantastic photos ... thank you for sharing.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Beautiful tags - love your colour choice - of course!
Those snowdrop pictures are just gorgeous - one of my favourite flowers, I used to be allowed to pick a bunch for my Mum's birthday for 6d from the local smallholder when I was little! A lovely memory! Chrisx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

GORGEOUS photos...professional for sure! Love your tags too! The corrugated paper and metal bits really add interest, but I love the blooms!

Desire Fourie said...

Beautiful photos of nature at its best. Love the sneak peak at the steam punk creation.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

cathylynn said...

Thanks Alison for sharing your beautiful photos of those gorgeous flowers. Oh they make me hunger for spring. Love them all!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Thanks for the flower images and also for the progress photos of your amazing tags, they are breathtaking, I love specially the effect by the glass pebbles.
Great art works,
hugs Anja

maria's knutselplezier said...

Great tag , love all the details on it!!!and beautiful foto's of Spring!!!


Have a nice time and injoy everything !!

Greetings
Maria

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful layers and such gorgeous spring colours to compliment the stunning pictures
I love spring flowers seems so slow to come this year
Saw my first spring lambs at the weekend, so cute!

Jools x

Willy said...

What a beautiful photo's!!

Gio said...

Your lovely piece, and this wonderful images! Thanks for sharing with us a little touch of Spring! It's not so far...:-)

Have a nice evening, Alison.

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Such pretty flowers! I'm ready for spring even if it does mean lots of allergies! Bring it on!!!!

Marci said...

Tags are lovely. Photos, too. Bitter cold and more snow predicted here (ugh)! I had some of those glass pebbles, wonder where they went to.

Marjie Kemper said...

Such beautiful tags! I'll take your word on it that spring is coming.... yippee!

Michelle said...

Visiting your blog this evening is just what I needed to chase away my dreary winter blues. Those photos are so uplifting! And your project? Not only uplifting, but inspiring as well. Those greens are gorgeous!

Deborah said...

Isn't it wonderful to see the flowers in the sunshine after weeks of sodden ground and grey skies.

Ana K. said...

Gorgeous tags Alison! Background is fantastic and I love pebbles! Also beautiful flowers photos, it looks that you had wonderful time!
Hugs

Sandy said...

Beautiful pictures Alison. Nothing can come close to Mother Nature.
Now I have to pop over to The Artistic Stamper to see what you are up to -
sandy xx

Shirley said...

Snowdrops are so pretty and delicate Alison your pictures look amazing. You have captured the colours of the crocus' perfectly. Off to check out the Artistic Stamper pics.


Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Kasia said...

Wonderful tags! Love all those cute details on them! Beautiful photos of those lovely flowers :)

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow truly stunning tags, I love the flower images you have used and the way you have made them pop with added fresco paints. The pebbles are awesome, I love how you used stamped music notes. Wow those gardens you visited look beautiful and all those flowers with such gorgeous vivid colours, it must have been so inspirational :-) Kezzy xxx